Chalk your cue and run the table — Bally’s 1990 Pool Sharks is a billiards-themed four-player with a clever dual personality, offering both 8-ball and 9-ball rule sets that genuinely change how you play. A Doug Watson concept and art, designed by Tony Kraemer with a young Brian Eddy on code, this confirmed run of 2,250 turns the pool hall into a satisfying shot-making exercise built around drops, ramps, and a captive ball.
The strategy hinges on which game you’re playing. In 8-ball, complete the seven drops in any order twice over, then a ramp, to light the three-million Trick Shot hurry-up at the left loop. In 9-ball, the drops must fall in order and you need two ramps to light it — a tougher, more precise challenge that the better players relish. A crucial bit of discipline: the ramps and the Hotshot Alley saucer normally score zero, building only jackpot value, so the savvy shooter avoids those shots unless a ball or jackpot is actually lit. The skill shots have their own rewards, with the hole in the ramp plastic scoring 250,000 and a cheery “Nice Follow!” or “Super Draw!” depending on the side, while in 9-ball the three-ball skill shots inherently grant more progress toward that big hurry-up.
Pool Sharks is a smartly designed sports machine that rewards knowing the rules of the game you’ve chosen — a rare bit of strategic variety baked right into the settings. Complete your drops in the proper order, light the Trick Shot, and avoid the dead-end shots until they pay. It’s a tidy, satisfying table for the player who appreciates precision over chaos. Rack ’em, run the order, and sink that hurry-up. The money’s on the left loop.